A 
 
 s K h: T C H 
 
 STEIA MISSIO:S". 
 
 
 BY THE 
 
 Rev. 
 
 JAMES S. DENNIS, 
 
 
 MISSIONARY IN SYRIA 
 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 Edward 0. Jenkins Pkinter, 20 North William Street. 
 
 
 1872. 
 
^ ^^ ''^^ $/> 
 
..^ssnsrm 
 
 '^ 
 
 A SKETCH 
 
 SYRIA MISSION, 
 
 y 
 
 REV. JAMES S. DENNIS, 
 
 MISSIONARY m SYRIA. 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Map, 2 
 
 I. A GLA>fCE AT THE FlELD AND ITS PeCTJ- 
 
 LIARITIES, 3 
 
 let. Its Geography and History. 
 2d. Its People and Religions. 
 ^ 3d. Its Difficulties and Encouragements 
 
 n. A Statement of Progress up to the 
 
 Present Time 14 
 
 1st. As regards Evangelistic Work. 
 2d. As regards Education. 
 •3d. As regards Press Work. 
 
 in. A Glance at the Present Condition and 
 Future Prospects of the Mission... 30 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 MISSICKN HOUSE, 23 CENTRE STREET. 
 1872. 
 
J.of Trwad 
 
 MtSSfOM FIEtO. 
 
SKETCH OF THE SYRIA MISSION.* 
 
 The object of tMs pamphlet is to bring to the attention of its readers the 
 Syria Missi:)n as it is at the present time. Any attempt to give a history of 
 this interesting field would require more space than is desirable in this pub- 
 lication ; those desiiing a more complete historical review than is given 
 here are referred to the excellent pamphlet already issued from the j)en of 
 Rev. Thomas Laurie, D.D., and to the forthcoming "History of the Syria 
 Mission," by Rev. Isaac Bird, soon to be issued by the Presbyterian Board of 
 Publication. 
 
 We propose herein simply to group together in a condensed and con- 
 nected review the sahent facts of interest which mission work in Syria 
 presents, and if possible to bring the field more vividly and clearly before the 
 minds of its friends at home. This plan involves : 
 
 I. A GLA.NCE AT THE FIELD AND ITS PECULIARITIES. 
 II. A STATEMENT OF PROGEESS UP TO THE PRESENT TIME. 
 ni. A GLANCE AT THE PRESENT CONDITION AND FUTURE PROSPECTS OF THE 
 MISSION. 
 
 THE FIELD AND ITS PECULIARITIES. 
 
 1. lis Geography and Hidory. — The geographical Hmits of the field, 
 reach from Acre on the sea coast northward for about 150 miles, and 
 extend from the coast inland an average breadth of fifty miles. The 
 prominent and interesting feature of the natural scenery of the Syrian 
 coast, as thus Hmited, is the gi'and Lebanon range, which towers in 
 sublimity and beauty along nearly the entire extent of the mission territory. 
 Along the sea-coast are populous cities, and the western slopes of Lebanon 
 are thickly dotted with villages, some of them of considerable size. For 
 convenience in the prosecution of missionary operations this whole field is 
 subdivided into four smaller fields, named respectively after the prominent 
 and central station where the missionary families reside, the Beirut, TripoH, 
 Sidon, and Abeih fields. Beu-ut, a large and flourishing city of 80,000 ia- 
 
 * The papers relating to Syria publislied recently in the Foreign Missionary, have 
 been largely drawn upon in the preparation of this sketch. j. s. D. 
 
habitants, the sea-port of Damascus, with which it is connected by an 
 elegant carriage road scaling both ranges of the Lebanons, is the central 
 and most important station of the field ; twenty-five miles down the coast 
 is Sidon, the head-quarters of the southern work ; filfty miles up the coast 
 is Tripoli, the base of operations in the northern regions ; whUe the moun- 
 tain field is worked from Abeih, a pleasant village chnging to the western 
 slope of Lebanon, 2400 feet above the sea, and located in a south-easterly 
 direction from Beirut, fifteen miles distant. 
 
 The historical associations of the region now occupied by the Syria Mis- 
 sion lead us back through the centuries until history is lost in tradition, and 
 our only source of authentic information is found to be the few brief hints 
 given us in the early chapters of Grenesis. 
 
 This narrow plain between the glittering Lebanons and the sea, was the scene 
 of Phoenicia's glory. Yonder is Sidon, of which we read4n the 10th of Gene- 
 sis ; just there is Tyre, sleeping her prophetic sleep amidst the ruins of ancient 
 splendor, which for 1500 years dazzled the world. Two thousand years, and 
 over, before Christ, she was born of royal Sidon, and for l,ong centuries 
 the history of these renowned cities reveals a record of brilliant prosperity 
 and guilty luxury, which not even the dimness of those early ages can 
 obscure. 
 
 Upon many of the " high places" of Lebanon and Hermon are imposing 
 ruins of ancient temples, where, no doubt, were celebrated the tragic and 
 idolatrous rites of heathenism. The fertile plain of the Buka'a was the 
 home of idolatry ; the magnificent ruias of Baalbec are, no doubt, the 
 lingering rehcs of one of the most imposing centres of sun-worship which 
 the world has ever seen. Just over the crests of Anti-Lebanon is Damas- 
 cus, probably the most ancient city of which the world can now boast. As 
 we run our eye up and down the coast, we can recall to mind Assyrian, 
 Egyptian, Babylonian, Persian, Grecian, Eoman, Arabian, and Tui-kish con- 
 querors, each in turn marshalling their victorious armies, and planting their 
 standards upon those picturesque shores. Back of Tripoli, upon the bleak 
 heights, may still be found a grove of the ancient cedars which floiurished, 
 no doubt, in the times of David and Solomon ; Avhile the very earth is i^opu- 
 lous with the tombs and sarcophagi of past generations. In the gardens 
 of Sidon, in 1854, were found some copper pots full of the beautiful gold 
 coins of Phihp of Macedon and his son Alexander, and near by, in 1855, was 
 discovered the celebrated sarcophagus of King Ashmunazer, son of Tabnith, 
 son of Ashmunazer, king of Sidon, whose Phoenician inscription is the long- 
 est which has yet come to light, and in most perfect preservation. Every 
 step we take in this richly historic region, brings us into contact with the 
 relics of the long past. It is, therefore, a field deeply interesting and sug- 
 I gestive in its historical associations. Our Lord himself once trod the mis- 
 ' sion soil of Syria, when He visited the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, and was at 
 Csesarea Philippi. The heights of Hermon above the latter place, most 
 
probably, witnessed His Transfiguration. Paul touched at the Syrian sea-ports 
 on his missionary journeys. This, then, is sacredly historic soil, and a tenderer 
 interest lingers here than could be given by human history alone. 
 
 2. Its People and Religions. — The mission is in the heart of the great 
 Turkish Empire, Syi-ia being a province of the Ottoman Empire, and gov- 
 erned by a Turkish Governor General, receiving his appointment from Con- 
 stantinople, and having his residence at Damascus. Since the civil wars 
 of 18()0, Mount Lebanon has been an hidependent Pashalic, whose governor 
 is selected from one of the nominally Christian sects. The present Governor, 
 Franco Pasha, is a Maronite. Although there is a diversity of nationalities 
 throughout the field, the spoken language is universally the Arabic ; all mis- 
 sionary operations are through this medium of communication. The popu- 
 lation within the geographical limits of the field, is a little less than a milHon ; 
 and^aTmore complex, fragmentary and antagonistic million, cannot be found 
 in any other single spot on the face of the earth. Side by side, either in sepa- 
 rate villages, or in distinct quarters of the same city or village, live, generally 
 in a state of mutual distrust and ahenation, the Moslem, the Metawely, the 
 Druze, the Orthodox Greek, the Papal Greek, the Maronite, the Latin Cath- 
 olic, the Nusaiiiyeh, the Jacobite and the Jew ; while the wild Bedouin has 
 I his home in the neighboring desert. Protestant Christian missions are here 
 ! face to face with two of the most fanatical, bitter and zealous opposing sys- 
 i terns to be found in any mission field ; viz. Mohainniedanism, and the de- " 
 1 generate Eastern Christianity. The ultimate aim of all Protestant mission 
 I work in the Orient, is to plant and nourish a true Christianity in the midst 
 of Mohammedanism, with the hope of ultimately gaining a victory for the 
 Gospel over Islam ; and, in the prosecution of this aim, the work is directly 
 ' upon the degenerate, erring Christian sects. Hence there is in Syria no 
 single stratum, social or religious, upon which to work; as, for example, 
 some anciently united and historic church or people, hke the Armenians. 
 • But the task is, to fuse into one harmonious, evangelical chiu'ch, these diverse 
 and intensely antagonistic elements ; to draw them into fraternal and con- 
 fiding unity ; to form a chui'ch which will be itself a centre of organized, 
 self-supj)orting missionary operations ; a nd th us to redeem Christianity from 
 the scandal and shame which attaches to her history in the Orient. Hith- 
 efto~the Christianity of the East has been itself the strong argument 
 against Chiistianity. In the midst of this ancient and curious society, with 
 its striking and peculiar antagonisms, which have been petrifying for centu- 
 ries, until their absui'dity and bitterness fairly defy representation to the 
 American reader, is located the Syria Mission, with its heroic history, its 
 precious names, its earnest and persevering toils, its encouraging successes, 
 and its brightening prospects ; now the inheritance of the re-united Presby- 
 terian Church. 
 
 Of Chese various sects the nominal Christians are perhaps more numer- 
 
6' 
 
 ous than any other one class of people, cousistiiig of about 250,000 Maron- 
 ites, 70,000 Orthodox Greeks, 50,000 Greek Catholics, and a few thou- 
 sand Syrian Jacobites, and Armenians. The Druzes may number 50,000, 
 and the remainder of the population are Moslems, Metawelies, Nusaiii- 
 yeh, Bedouin Arabs, and Jews. The Maronites reside chiefly in Northern 
 Lebanon. The Orthodox Greeks, and Greek CathoUcs, are found in the 
 cities, and in the villages of the mountains. The Druzes occupy the south- 
 em half of Lebanon, the valley of the Ui^per Jordan, and the western slopes 
 of Hermon. The Metawelies are found chiefly in Sidon, Tyre, and the moun- 
 tains east of those cities, also, at the north end of Lebanon, and in the 
 Buka'a about Baalbec. The Nusairiyeh dwell on the mountains about 
 Safeeta, and. in a few other localities. The Jacobites are foimd at Hums, 
 Sudud, and dependent villages. The Moslems abound in the chief cities, 
 and in parts of the mountains both at the north and south end of our field. 
 They also occupy many villages in the Buka'a. Fragmentary tribes of tent- 
 dwelling Arabs are met with in nearly aU parts of our field, but we come 
 in contact with the great Bedouin wanderers of the desert chiefly in the 
 neighborhood of Hums on the north-east, and Banias at the south-east of 
 oui" limits. 
 
 Dr. Thomson of the Mission, in his " Land and the Book," speaking of 
 the uncongenial and inharmonious relations of Syrian society, says: "The 
 various religions and sects live together, and practice their conflicting super- 
 stitions in close proximity, but the people do not coalesce into one homoge- 
 neous community, nor do they regard each other with fraternal feelings. 
 The Sunnites excommunicate the Shiites, (rival Moslem sects,) — both hate 
 the Druzes, and all three detest the Nusauiyeh. The Maronites have no 
 particular love for any body, and in turn are disliked by all; which is time 
 also as said of the Druzes. The Orthodox Greeks cannot endure tlie (^reek 
 Cathohcs; and the fact that the former, more generally than any other,sect, ac- 
 cept the missionary and the Gospel, arrays all other sects against them. 
 All despise the Jews. These remarks are also true of aU the minor divis- 
 ions of this land." 
 
 " Another curious fact," says Dr. Thomson, " is, that, with the exception 
 of the Jews and Bedouin Arabs, no one can trace back his own origin to 
 any ancient race or nation. The general mass of the Moslems are the ming- 
 led descendants of the various races who composed the population of the 
 Greek Empire at the time of Mohammed; and this original confusion of 
 races has been infinitely augmented during the twelve centuries of their 
 lawless occupation. Li all the Christian sects there has been the same 
 blending of primitive races, and a large infusion of foreign and Eui'opean 
 blood, during the times of the Crusades, and subsequently even to om- day ; 
 so that the most intelligent and learned admit that it is absolutely impossi- 
 ble, now, to ascertain their true national ongin. The Maronites, as a body, 
 may have descended from the ancient Syrians. The Nusairiyeh suggest the 
 
idea that they are the miserable clelris of the accursed Canaanites. The 
 Meta^A-elies appear to have immigrated from Persia ; they have a decided 
 resemblance to the Jews. In the inhabitants of Lebanon and the plains at 
 its base we may i^ossibly find some traces of the original Phoenicians. The 
 Druzes are Arabs, who came from the eastern confines of Syria, and settled 
 in Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon within the last nuie hundred years." 
 
 The Chi-istian sects of S^Tia, as well as some others in the East, are de- 
 signated as only nominally Christian, for the reason that, while they are 
 the descendants of the early Christian Church, and so inherit the name Chris- 
 tian, they are yet unchristian in the degeneracy of their corrupt religious 
 faith and practice, and have long since forfeited by their scandalous hves, 
 their depraved chui'ch- polity, and the virtual idolatry of their religious wor- 
 ship, any right to the full and simple title of Christians. 
 
 There are marked differences in the religious characteristics, and also in 
 the accessibihty of these various sects. Of all, the Orthodox Greeks are the 
 most accessible to missionary labor. This is owing to several causes. No 
 doubt, the most influential is, that the Greek Church has never forbidden 
 her people to receive and read the Word of God, They have, in fact, been 
 C\ always willing to accept at our hands the sacred Scriptures, and to have 
 them taught ui our schools. They are also disposed to accept the Bible as 
 paramount authority on religious matters. From this cause, too, they are 
 more willing to read other religious books, to converse on spiritual topics, 
 and to Hsten to the preached Gospel. It is an interesting fact, that mission 
 work in the East, thus far, has been blessed with a rapid and special success 
 among the A rmenian s^ and Orthodox Greeks, who alone of all the nomi- 
 nal Christian sects have cherished a respect for the Bible, and among whom 
 it has never been a proscribed book. God is remembering in mercy those 
 who have paid even a formal respect to His Holy Word. The Greeks also re- 
 ject .the Papacy, and earnestly protest against the monstrous pretensions of the 
 Pope, so that they have many points of agi'eement with Protestants, and, to 
 a certain extent, look upon them as friends and allies. Owing to these and 
 ; other causes, partly social and partly pohtical, these people are everywhere 
 I open to missionary labor ; most of the members of our churches are 
 from this sect, and as they are found in considerable numbers throughout 
 oiu* entu'e field, they constitute a practical working basis of the utmost im- 
 portance. 
 
 The Greek Catholics — a papal off-shoot from the Greek Church, which be- 
 gan about 150 years ago — abound most ui the cities and on Lebanon ; and, 
 though greatly restrained by a watchful Papal hierarchy, the people retain, 
 and at times assert a good deal of independence, and from the mere fact 
 that they have once broken away from their original community, they are 
 the more ready to investigate rehgious subjects, and more open to convic- 
 tion, than the Mai'onites. They are, like the Orthodox Greeks, a minority, 
 and dwell side by side with other sects. They probably number a larger 
 
8 
 
 proportion of educated, intelligent and enterprising young men, than any 
 other body of people in the country. 
 
 The Maronites, as a rule, are bigoted Papists, very ignorant, and wholly 
 subject to the stringent and ever-watchful control of their clergy. Their 
 hierarchy is also very numerous, well organized and powerful, being reinfor- 
 ced by a multitude of learned Jesuits, and numberless monks and nuns, both 
 native and foreign. In a large part of northern Lebanon, they are the only 
 inhabitants, and have been hitherto inaccessible. Still, even in this strong- 
 hold of the Maronite Patriarch, the light of the Gospel is beginning to 
 penetrate, in spite of all opposition; and not only individuals, but considera- 
 ble communities are found, from time to time, attempting to break away 
 from their bondage, and to declare themselves Protestants. This number is 
 steadily increasing, and there is good reason to hope that a wide and effectu- 
 al door for the Gospel amongst this large and needy people, will ere long 
 be opened, which no man can shut. In other parts of our field, where the 
 Maronites are few, they are, of course, more accessible, and less stringently 
 bound by their priests. 
 
 The Druzes are, and always have been, our personal friends — are glad to 
 have us reside amongst them, and open schools for the education of their 
 children. Of late, many of their most enterprising youth are seeking a 
 higher education in our seminaries, and in the college. It is very desirable 
 that more definite and adequate measures be adopted and worked efficiently 
 for their conversion. Their religion is a medley of Mohammedanism and 
 ancient philosophical systems — especially that of Zoroaster — with some 
 notions borrowetl apparently from Judaism and Christianity. They hold 
 to the absolute unity of the Godhead, and that the highest perfection 
 of man is to have all his powers of mind and heart mystically absorbed 
 in the Deity. According to their views, there have been seven law- 
 givers and ten incarnations, the last being in the person of El Hakeem, 
 chief founder and prophet of the sect. The world was populated instanta- 
 neously with beings of every age and condition. The transmigration of 
 souls is a cardinal doctrine, and furnishes a just and convenient system of 
 rewards and punishments. The number of Druzes in existence is not to be 
 changed, therefore proselytism is undesnable, and apostacy cannot be tolera- 
 ted. Desertion from then* ranks also breaks in upon an organization mar- 
 vellously comjDact and effective in war and politics. The higher mysteries are 
 known only to the initiated, but all are bound to unqualified secrecy, and, 
 for this end, any deception is allowable. China is inhabited, as they sup- 
 pose, by their co-rehgionists, and at the predicted day of reckoning, two and 
 a half millions of Chinese monotheists ai'e to sweep across Asia, crush out a 
 war that shall be raging between Christians and Moslems, and enable Ha- 
 keem, again in human form, to punish all who reject his sway. His armies 
 shall then go plundering thi'ough the world, and finally set up his throne in 
 Egypt, where believers, rewarded with rank and wealth, shall reign with him, 
 
forever. This glorious era was to be ushered in nine centui'ies after the es- 
 tablishment of the faith. Their computation declares the day to be close at 
 hand; among the ignorant, expectation is high, but those of more intelli- 
 gence begin to question the traditions of a Chinese invasion, and to fear 
 some stronger faith must supplant their own. If such is to be the case, 
 rather than adopt any of the religions about them, Protestantism would be 
 then.- choice, particularly as then- patron, the English nation, professes it ; 
 few, however, are yet williug to turn their back upon the rehgion of their 
 fathers. Light is beginning to maVe its way among them, they have in a few 
 instances even established schools of their own, with teachers trained by the 
 Mission. Three years since a prominent Druze was publicly baptized with his 
 children at Abeih, and Fast year nine young men, representmg leading families^ 
 entered the College at Beu-ut. This bold, vigorous, industrious race, hfted 
 out of their degrading superstitions by the power of the Gospel, would 
 make Mount Lebanon a strong-hold of the truth. 
 
 The Moslems and Metawelies are, as a rule, still inaccessible to direct mis- 
 ! sionary labor. They are, however, waking up to the necessity of education, 
 'v and in many places some of their children are beginning to attend our 
 schools. La Beirut there are two schools exclusively for JNIoslem girls, which 
 are well attended though conducted on Christian principles. A spirit of in- 
 quiry on religious subjects is manifested more £requ.ently than in former 
 years, and a few are found who express a desire to forsake the faith of Islam. 
 Influences are at work which tend slowly but sui*ely to break down the 
 hitherto impregnable wall of separation which forbids the introduction of 
 the Gospel among the Moslem population, and the time draws on apace 
 when this vast field will be thrown open to the Church. 
 
 Along the northern limits of our field we come in contact with the large 
 body of the Nusaii-iyeh — a semi-heathen and more than semi-barbarous com- 
 munity. These people are, in some respects, iu much the same state as the 
 Druzes, and from the results of missionary labor among them by the breth- 
 r \ ren at Ladakiyeh, there is every reason to hope that they will be found 
 ^\to offer an open and a promising field of evangelistic labor. 
 
 To complete this survey, we must briefly refer to the Bedouin Arabs. 
 SmaU fragments of these tent-dweUing descendants of Ishmael are met with 
 in nearly all parts of our field. These fragmentary tribes are, to a certain 
 extent, stationary, that is, they never wander far from the settled parts of 
 the country, and have constant intercourse with the villagers in the vicinity 
 of their encampments. In the region of Ilamah and Hams,, however, we 
 are brought face to face with the genuine Bedouins, who swarm all over the 
 plains and deserts of Syria. So also on the east and south of Banias we 
 encounter the same wild wanderers in great numbers. The only way in 
 which mission work can as yet be carried on amongst them, is to send col- 
 porteurs to wander about with them in their migrations. This kind of 
 work has been prosecuted for several years by the Sidon station, and is at 
 
li 
 
 J 
 
 10 
 
 present urged forward at the expense of a benevolent English gentleman, 
 Mr. Arlington of Leeds, who is also supporting some Bedouin youth in the 
 school of Mr. Bistany, in the hope that they will, in time, become missionaries 
 to theii- people in the desert. This good Avork should be sustained and fos- 
 tered by every wise and a.vailab]e means, in the assured belief that tlie time 
 is not distant when these outcast children of the desert will be converted to 
 Christ. 
 
 3. It^ difficulties and encouragements. — The preceding sui*vey of our field 
 will of itself suggest to a thoughtful mind some of the difficulties and dis- 
 couragements which it presents. But it is desirable to present these matters 
 in more detail, that the Church may be placed in intelhgent sympathy with 
 the Mission, and be better prepared to prosecute those measures which are 
 necessary for success, with the greater patience, perseverance and faith. 
 I The fi-agmentary and antagonistic character of the population creates one 
 I of the most obstinate difficulties in the way of general and rapid evangel- 
 j istic success. There is no single, common stratum of society underlying 
 the entire community, which, as a basis, might be w^orked throughout the 
 land; and it is, of course, very difficult to fuse such discordant elements into 
 one harmonious Christian community. In addition, the fanaticism and bitter 
 prejudices of the various religious sects — not alone the Moslems but, as 
 well, the nominally Christian — make a profession of Protestantism on the 
 part of an individual or a community, a trying and even hazardous ordeal. 
 In many cases, it involves either the severing of family ties^ or the loss of 
 property, or social and political disgi'ace, or persecution, cruel and long-con- 
 tinued ; in some cases, this dire catalogue would seem to be all combined in 
 the crushing avalanche of troubles which overwhelms the feeble and, per- 
 k' haps, faint-hearted convert. Neighbors, friends, and even relatives, seem, 
 sometimes, to be transformed into incarnate devils, bent upon di'iving, worry- 
 ing, frightening, or torturing the recreant one back into the fold of the fam- 
 ily reUgion ; while the priests are equally zealous to avail themselves of ev- 
 ery agency, which their influence or official station can command, to accom- 
 plish the same end. 
 . Again, each of these sects is fenced about by peculiar creeds and customs, 
 j and defended by watchful leaders and zealous subalterns. To counteract 
 these oj)posing influences, and break the power of superstition, prejudice, 
 and habit, impHes a vast amount of labor, study, patience and perseverance. 
 Then again these barriers against the reception of the Gospel are im- 
 . meusely strengthened by political entanglements. Each of the sects has, 
 or seeks to have, some foreign protector, upon whom it can depend for 
 protection against its enemies. The Maronites look to the French Gov- 
 ernment to sustain their independent existence ; the Greeks depend upon 
 Russia; the Greek CathoUcs upon Austria; and the Druzes rely upon 
 England, They are all, in fact, dealt with by these various governments as so 
 
11 
 
 \ many political allies in this country, and this marks them off into distinct 
 ! and hostile camps. The recent war between France and Prussia, brought 
 out this element of discord and antagonism in an amazing manner. 
 
 Time and other influences will, however, modify these partizan animosi- 
 ties. Experience has proved, also, that even this fragmentary and antagonis- 
 tic chai'acter of the inhabitants is overruled, in the providence of God, for 
 the protection of persecuted Protestants, and as a means of gaining access 
 to many pai-ts of the country, which might otherwise be effectually closed 
 against us. The Protestants keep alonf from all these entanglements, and 
 cultivate friendly relations with all, that the Gospel may not be hindered, but 
 rather commended to all classes of the community. 
 
 Another hindrance to missionary success in Sjrisi is the familiarity of the 
 people with the language of rehgion, while strangers to its power. Relig- 
 ious phrases and expressions abound. The most sacred words and devout 
 phrases are on the hj)s of aU. Their very salutations contain an amount of 
 hoh' language that is astonishing. Dr. Laui'ie, in his Historical Sketch, says: 
 " Good people in Amex'ica are often at a loss to understand how there can 
 I be_so many Christian sects in Syria, and no religion. But if they will bear 
 ' in mind the natural character of the heart, and then consider, that in all the 
 nominal chm'ches of Syria spiritual instruction is never given — that the 
 doctrines of the Gospel are never taught — that piety is made to consist in 
 outward ceremonies, in the observance of days, and obedience to their 
 priests — that their idea of worship is the repetition of prayers in an un- 
 known tongue — that the distinction between the regenerate and unregene- 
 rate is known only as the difference between the baptised and unbaptised — 
 that religion is separated from morality — that the priest is held to have 
 power to pardon sin, and does it for money — that then- preaching is either a 
 teaching of the worst errors of Popery, or incredible and silly legends of 
 saints ; they will see how the name can exist without the substance." 
 
 The mission work in Syria has also been greatly retarded by frequent po- 
 litical changes, and the unsettled, restless state of society. The minds of 
 the people have been occupied, and their attention distracted, by the con- 
 stant expectation or fear of social disorder and anarchy, while at times 
 civil wars of the most harrowing and desolating cruelty have swept over the 
 land. The recent fearful massacres of 1860 are an example. The result 
 of these apparently and, no doubt, du-ectly adverse influences has been, 
 however, in many cases, to gain a vantage ground, or secure an opportuni- 
 \\ ty, for which the missionaries had, perhaps, been waiting and praying many 
 'years. ^It is true, moreover, that but few Protestants were either implicated 
 or injm'ed in these fiightful outbursts. We quote again from Dr. Laurie's 
 Sketch, with reference to the results of the civil wars of 1860. 
 
 " llie du-ect results of this war on our operations were, doubtless, injurious. 
 Some stations were broken up for a time. Many hearts were hardened by 
 suffering, and immorality increased, through the homeless poverty of many 
 
^ 
 
 12 
 
 exposed to temptation. But the general result shows much that calls for 
 gratitude. The power of the clergy that martyred Asaad el Shidiak, and 
 formed the greatest hindrance to the progress of the truth, weakened by 
 previous wars, in this, received its death-blow." 
 
 " Agam, the war brought missionaries into more extensive and favorable in- 
 tercourse with the people than ever before. At different times, as many as 
 75000 persons, in all, were fed daily from then- hands. At one time, 2500 
 were fed in Beirut by native members of our church ; 60000 piastres, 
 ($2400) contributed in England and America, were distributed every week 
 by the missionaries ; Dr. Thomson having charge of the clothing, bedding, 
 etc. ; Dr. Van Dyck devoting his time to the sick ; and Mr. Jessup dealing 
 out daily bread to the starving multitudes. Besides aU this at Beirut, Mr. 
 Lyons visited the vicinity of Baalbec, on the same errand ; and Mr. Eddy 
 ministered to the thousands who had fled to Sidon for refuge. Yet, out of 
 15000 widows there were only twenty Protestants. Such a refutation of 
 the slanders by which the clergy bad sought for more than forty years to 
 fence out the missionaries from the people, could not but produce a re- 
 aiction in favor of the tnith. During some months there was daily preach- 
 ing at Beirut." 
 
 In all the trials of this Mission, though sickness and other causes have 
 constrained some to return home, the missionaries generally have stood at 
 i their posts, and sought to bear up the courage of the churches on the wings 
 of their own faith. 
 
 Amid the discouragements of 1841 and 1842, the lamented Dr. Eh 
 Smith, though his mind was never free from anxiety respecting the prospects 
 of the Mission, yet pleaded against its being abandoned by the chui-ches, 
 and was content to do good by piece-meal, as opportunity offered, assured that 
 all the preparatory labor then performed would one day yield abundant 
 fruit. 
 
 In 184.5, the Mission wrote : "Our history presents so many instances of 
 most marked divine interposition in behalf of the Mission, that it would 
 indicate feeble faith indeed if we should be gi-eatly cast down by present 
 difficulties." Again, in 1861, while the waves of the storm of 1860 were still 
 raging, a beloved brother still at his post wrote : " To the question — Are you 
 discouraged? We answer, No. The walk of Jerusalem were built in troub- 
 lous times. Storm and tempest are as needful as the dew and sunshine. 
 We may see darker times than ever, and we may see lighter ; but light or 
 dark, our duty is plain. We are to hold on till the divine Hand itself 
 loosens our hold; we may and ought to walk in the light of God." The 
 Mission in Syria now stands on higher vantage-ground than ever before; 
 and those " who are alive and remain " there, now begin to realize the 
 truth, that they who sow in tears shall reap in joy. 
 
 Another difficulty which makes the gaining and confirming of souls in the 
 spiritual hfe such a laborious, and often discouraging work, is the unprom- 
 
13 
 
 ising and spiritually impoverished character of the material which is availa- 
 ble for missionary vpork. It is buried beneath the dust and ashes of Orien- 
 I talism, religious and social, as Pompeii lay overwhelmed by the ashes of 
 i Vesuvius. Dig it out, and strike it with the Gospel hammer, and it seems 
 often simply to dissolve into suffocating dust. An ignorance of any high 
 spiritual experience in the chiu-ches also tends to retard their growth, and 
 makes them contented to live with less of earnest aspiration and spiritual de- 
 velopment than should mark their piety. The presence of the Spirit has 
 never been known in the churches in any such striking and generally preva- 
 lent power as is often known in Christian communities here. The converts 
 have been almost entirely adults, won by the power of the truth, convin- 
 cing, conquering and subduing; hence, the prevaihng type of piety is intellec- 
 tual rather than emotional. The Syrian missionary prays for the mighty 
 power and influence of the Spirit, to give tenderness and love where faith 
 and intellectual convictions are often so clear and simple. 
 
 As regards the special encouragements of the field, there are some strong 
 points of interest. The geographical hmits of the field would be a very in- 
 adequate indication of the actual and prospective sphere of the Mission in its 
 influence for good. A far wider view is the true one to take. By means of the 
 \ press, the Bible and rehgious books have been spread already over the vast re- 
 I gions occupied by Arabic speaking races, from "Western Africa to India and 
 \ beyond it, and from Mosul and Mardin to Ethiopia and Abyssinia. By 
 means of the common school, the normal school, the female seminary, the 
 college and the theological seminary, teachers and preachers are trained 
 and sent forth to extend the blessings of the Gospel, and the advantages of 
 education, to many distant places. These long Hues of precious influence 
 and spiritual power are but just beginning to be worked out extensively, 
 and they afford the highest encouragement for rapid expansion and early 
 results. 
 
 "While there are other honored missionaries who labor in the Arabic lan- 
 guage, and so also for thek vast Arabic speaking constituency, yet it would 
 not be invidious to say that the Syria Mission enjoys special opportunities to 
 \ carry on an enlarged and expansive work in this direction. Her Arabic 
 printing press is the largest and most active in the world, and her means 
 \ and appliances for educating and Cliristianizing the Arab people are the re- 
 sult of many laborious years of missionary effort. Beirut, with Lebanon 
 for her protector, feeder, and chief support, is rapidly and surely becoming 
 the radiating centre of literary, scientific and religious light and culture for 
 this people. The same is true with regard to the vigorous and growing 
 educational institutions of the Mission. The College also is destined to oc- 
 cupy a noble sphere, and do a grand work for the race in whose interests, 
 for Christ's sake, it has been foimded. A spacious and beautiful building 
 for the uses of the institution, is now in process of erection at Beirut, the 
 comer-stone of which was recently laid by an esteemed fiiend of the Mission, 
 
14 
 
 Hon. W. E. Doclge-of New York, who was then visiting the East. A build- 
 ing for the Medical Department is also in process of erection. 
 
 Another encouragement is to be found in the strategic location of the 
 Mission. It is in the heart of the Mohammedan world, and any success 
 which the Gospel may achieve here will exert an important, if not de- 
 cisive influence in overthrowing the ancient faith of Islam. But our 
 hope and great encouragement, after all, is in God. He has given us this 
 commanding position ; He has blessed us with these noble ojoportunities ; 
 He has prepared these agencies and instrumentalities of special value and 
 efficiency, that He may bless the Mission with spiritual power, and work 
 mightily through His servants, by the energy of the Holy Ghost, for the 
 salvation of vast numbers who woul^ otherwise be left to be the prey of 
 Satan and the victims of sin. 
 
 n. 
 
 A STATEMENT OF PROGKESS UP TO THE PRESENT TIME. 
 
 1. In Relation to Evangelistic Work. — In the prosecution of then- work, 
 the Mission have ever regarded the preaching of the Gospel as the most effi- 
 cacious instrumentahty for bringing the tnith into contact with the hearts 
 of the people, and they have held all other agencies as only auxiliary to this. 
 
 The acquisition of the language has, therefore, been the first duty of 
 the new missionary, to the end that he may as soon as possible address the 
 people in their own tongue. Every Sabbath, and more or less during the 
 week, they are accustomed to preach in their stations and out-stations. 
 Their audiences average from 50 to 100 hearers, except that the Beirut con- 
 gregation numbers nearly 500 souls. Connected with the Beiiiit congrega- 
 tion is an interesting sabbath school, numbering 350 scholars, and also a weekly 
 Bible-class for young men, conducted by Dr. Jessup, numbering about 80 
 regular attendants. Sabbath schools and Bible-classes, not so numerously 
 attended, are in operation at other localities in the mission field. 
 
 There are three ordained native evangelists in the field. One is a settled 
 pastor, another is a professor in the Medical Department of the College, and 
 the third is preaching as a supply, with the expectation of soon becoming a 
 pastor. A class of five has just graduated from the Theological Seminary of 
 the Mission, and it is the expectation that they will become pastors also at 
 various points in the field. 
 
 Besides these, there are as many as twenty pious native helpers and 
 preachers, some of whom act also as teachers in common schools, who 
 have most of them enjoyed more or less theological training in Abeih Semi- 
 nary, and w^ho conduct rehgious services in the vainous parts of the field on 
 the Sabbath, besides gathering the people for religious conversation and 
 instruction during the evenings of the week; so that it is not too much to 
 
15 
 
 say, that by means of the missionaries and the native helpers the Gospel is 
 preached statedly in as many as thirty places in Syria, as far as it constitutes 
 a part of then- mission field, and the regular attendants will number about 
 2500 souls. 
 
 These native preachers and teachers command the respect and confidence 
 of the Mission, and are a powei-ful auxiliary to their labors. The problem 
 yet to be solved is, how to greatly increase the number of such laborers, so 
 as to meet the pressing wants of the field ; duly to educate them, and to in- 
 duce the native churches to assume their support. 
 
 Churches. — In the northern field are two churches, at Tripoli, and at 
 Hiims. The church members in and around Beirut form a church in that 
 city. In the Lebanon are two chui'ches; one in Abeih, and the other in Ain 
 Zehalta. In the Sidon field are four churches ; in Sidon, Alma, Khiyam, 
 and Hasbeiya, these various churches coUect the members from the re- 
 gions of which they are the centres. The number of chui'ch members in 
 them all is about 320. 
 
 Church Edifices. — In the Tripoli field there are two church edifices, one 
 at Safeeta, and the other at Hums, both recently completed; in Tripoli a 
 room is hired for an indefinite number of years ; in other places rooms 
 are hired. 
 
 In the Bekut field there is at Beu-ut a fine church, with tower and clock, 
 and one at Kefr Sheema, recently dedicated. Another preaching service has 
 recently been established in Beirut, which promises well and may in time 
 call for another church edifice in that city. 
 
 In the Abeih field there is a fine church building in process of erection at 
 Abeih; an inferior one in use at Ain Zehalta; a new one now completed 
 at Bhamdim; and several rooms are hu-ed and occupied for church purposes. 
 
 In" the Sidon field there are church buildings in Sidon, Kanah, Alma, 
 Deir Mimass, Khiyam, Ibl, Kasheiya, and Hasbeiya. The people of Mejdel, 
 Jedaide, and Jim, are also making effoi-ts to complete churches in their re- 
 spective communities. For the most part these churches have been built 
 by funds raised by the missionaries among friends of the Mission at home; 
 yet considering the poverty of many of these native communities, they have 
 themselves given largely, and made many sacrifices for the honor and success 
 of the Gospel. 
 
 Theological Seminary. — A Seminary for the training of theological students 
 has been in operation for tlu-ee years past. Formerly it was located at Abeih, 
 but it is a distinct institution from what is known in the Mission as the 
 "Abeih Seminary." Eecently it was removed to Beu-ut. Its instructors are 
 Mr. Calhoun, in the department of Exegesis and Bibhcal Introduction; Mr. 
 Eddy, in the department of Systematic Theology ; Mr. H. H. Jessup, in the 
 department of Church History and Homiletics. Its first graduating class of 
 
16 
 
 five are yoimg men of ability and zeal ; it is hoped that they will be gi'eatly 
 useful as native pastors. 
 
 We close this brief statement of evangeKstic progress with a summary of 
 results. 
 
 (1) Direct Results. — What has been hitherto accomphshed seems small, if 
 estimated merely by the number of churches formed, church members ad- 
 mitted, native pastors ordained, Protestant communities em'olled ; but in no 
 country does this comprise the sum of missionary influence, and least of all 
 would this scale of reckoning results apply to Syria. 
 
 These results will not seem small, if the difficulties of the field are borne 
 in mind, the difficulties of the language, the small number of laborers, and 
 the counteracting influences from hostile organizations, powerfully sustained 
 by men and means. Only God could have wrought so much, thi'ough instru- 
 mentalities so inadequate. Only God could have prevented the cause 
 of truth fi'om being overborne by such powers leagued against it. 
 
 While the number actually converted seems as yet small, it is nevertheless 
 true, that many minds are enlightened, and multitudes are Protestant in 
 sentiment who will ere long join the mission ranks. The children of Syria 
 will many of them become Protestants. A prominent Greek at Beirut re- 
 cently said to Dr. Jessup, " You missionaries need not trouble yourselves 
 about converting Syria, our children are all going to be Protestants; the 
 Bible will do the work." The month of December in each year has been 
 set apart by the Foreign Board as a season of special prayer for Syria 
 among the churches. Hardly had the prayers of God's people last Decem- 
 ber ascended before the throne, when there was manifest in the Mission an 
 unusual spirit of inquiry among the natives ; the spirit of the Lord was 
 evidently present ; the Word was listened to with eagerness and solemnity ; 
 large and interesting prayer meetings were held; souls were converted, and 
 the churches edified, strengthened and refreshed. In many years there has 
 been no such hopeful and significant rehgious movement as that which 
 blessed Syria last winter. Let the people of God, and the friends of Syria, 
 pray, and the work will go on gloriously. 
 
 (2) Indirect Results. — These have been among Mohammedans, Druzes, and 
 Nominal Christians. 
 
 To Protestant influence, in great part, may we ascribe the changed feeling 
 which has come over the minds of the Mohammedans towards Christians. 
 The Christian religion has become understood by them to be not Avholly the 
 system of idolatry which they once regarded it, nor professing Christians as 
 devoid of morahty as they once seemed. As a consequence, there has been 
 a sensible quenching of the flame of Moslem bigotry, and a greater respect 
 for Christians, their rights, their Bible, and then* religion. The relative 
 positions of the Crescent and the Cross are not what they were when the 
 
17 
 
18 
 
 missionaries came to Syria. The Bible has gained ground, and the Koran 
 has lost it, as a controlling influence in the land. Some Mohammedans are 
 among the attendants upon our preaching, and these would, doubtless, be 
 more numerous, but for the risk to property and to life which inquirers 
 from among them incur. A young Moslem in Sidon recently asked Mr. 
 Eddy if he might come to his (Mr. Eddy's) house, and learn arithmetic, 
 adding that tliis would be only an ostensible reason, as the truth was, he 
 had been reading the New Testament, and wanted to know more of our 
 religion. Several mterestiug cases of religious inquiry among Moslems h^ve 
 come to the knowledge of the missionaries within a year or two past. 
 
 The first really satisfactory convert from Mohammedanism in the history 
 of the Syria Mission, was admitted to the chui'ch during the past year. His 
 calmness amidst persecution, and his heroic adherence to his Saviour, in the 
 face of threatened death, make one of the most interesting and thiilling 
 chapters in the annals of our Mission. He was rescued by the efforts of 
 consuls and missionaries from the clutches of the Turkish Governor General 
 of Syria, and his right to religious liberty on the basis of the guarantees of 
 1856, fought for and secured ; although he was obhged subsequently to 
 flee to Egypt to escape private assassination, as some forty young Moslems 
 in Beirut had sworn to kill him in some way. But every convert thus res- 
 cued gives added dignity to the guarantees of religious .liberty, which are 
 legally peifect in the Turkish Empire, and tends to make them more and 
 more a recognized law of the land. The time is not far off when religious 
 hberty wiU be a literal, as well as a legal fact, throughout the Turkish Em- 
 pire. As yet, it needs to be vigorously contended for in Syria and the re- 
 moter provinces, lest the tiger spirit of Moslem fanaticism, which still lurks 
 in the hearts of " the Faithful ," should do its bloody work secretly in the 
 darkness of its prisons, and under the protection of Turkish authority. 
 
 Not without results, also, have the children of the Druzes been taught in 
 our schools during all these years, and so many conversations been held 
 with adults of that sect. 
 
 The leaven of the Gospel has pervaded even to the secret inner sanctu- 
 aries of their religion, and the white turbans of the initiated Druzes seen in 
 our Sabbath congregations, and the inquirers who come to our houses, and 
 the baptized converts from among them, show that not in vain to the Druzes 
 has the hght of the Gospel again dawned upon Syria. One of the young 
 men who graduated from the Theological Seminary last year is from the 
 Druze sect, and it is hoj)ed will do a good work among his people. 
 
 But principally among the nominal Christian sects have the indirect 
 i-esults of missionary labor extended. These are visible in the changed 
 power of the clergy. Once, excommunication was a terror above all terrors. 
 Now, it is so powerless a weapon that those who once wielded it so effec- 
 tively are ashamed to challenge ridicule by exposing its weakness. 
 
 Protestantism, once regarded by the mass of the people as the blackest 
 
19 
 
 of heresies, finds everywhere its defenders and vindicators, even where it 
 lacks followers, and no longer can the lies, with which the clergy were 
 accustomed to frighten away then- flocks from contact with Gospel influence, 
 gain currency. 
 
 The religious instruction given in then* churches has been modified. More 
 Bible is taught, and less iraditiou. The preaching is more of Christ, and 
 less of the saints. The adoration of pictures has greatly lessened. All 
 sects have been compelled to introduce schools, and to educate both boys 
 and girls ; to educate their priests, and to modify the prohibitions against 
 reading the Bible. At tunes, even now, the fanaticism of the priests breaks 
 forth in disgi*aceful exhibitions; as, recently, in Kanah and Tjre, at the com- 
 mand of the Greek Catholic clergy, the people burned their Bibles. This 
 action, however, on the part of the priests, drove some of thek adherents 
 into the Protestant ranks, and called forth bitter reproaches from the Mos- 
 lems, who denounced it as scandalous and shameful. 
 
 The chrculation of the Scriptures, and of rehgious books, has been wide- 
 spread, and we have heard of some who have been enlightened by these 
 silent teachers, and have through them found Christ as their Savioui', and 
 died in joyful trust in Him, though they never had an opportunity pubhcly 
 to profess theh faith in Him. 
 
 Among all sects— Mohammedan, Druze, Greek, Maronite and Catholic, 
 the glaciers of prejudice, which for centimes have been forming, are now 
 melting and crumbling under the light and warmth of the Gospel. 
 
 The gift of the Bible to this people in their own tongue is the rich tribute 
 of gratitude which the West has retui-ned to the East, in acknowledgment of 
 its obligation to the land whence the Bible came ; and the East, in its turn, is 
 again paying tribute to the West, sending back to the churches the stimulat- 
 ing and precious tidings of the victories which the Word of God is winning. 
 
 Not in vain have Hebard and Smith and Whiting and De Forest and 
 Ford sowed the seed of the Word in tears, even though they went home with 
 few gathered sheaves. From the heights of heaven they now behold the 
 springing harvest. Not in vain have the Syrian workers who yet. remain, 
 toiled, many of them for long years in that arduous field ; God is giving 
 them abundant evidences of tlis favor, estabhshing the work of their hands 
 with signs and wonders of His grace. 
 
 The churches in America which have aided in sustaining the Mission by 
 their offerings and their prayers, have seen fewer results than have crowned 
 their labors in other fields, and their faith has been sorely tried : yet they have 
 been permitted to hear, from time to time, of souls ransomed from darkness 
 and sin; echoes of the songs of triumph sung by departing saints have 
 been borne to theh ears ; and they have felt that their labors have not been 
 unrewarded. 
 
 And the Church which now adopts the Mission, adopts a charge of peculiar 
 difficulty. This " Crown Jewel of Missions," as it has more kindly than de- 
 
20 
 
 servedly been called, needs years of careful cutting and polishing ere it will 
 be worthy to shine on the Saviour's brow. Yet, surely it may be counted 
 a privilege, and none the less so because the campaign is prolonged, and 
 costly, and difficult, to recover to its rightful Lord the land of patriarchs and 
 prophets, of apostles and martyrs ; to restore primitive Christianity to the 
 home of its birth, after fourteen centuries of exile. 
 
 To the question, therefore. Missionaries, what have you done in Syria ? 
 We answer : 
 
 By God's grace, we have laid anew the foundations of God's living temple, 
 Christ being the chief cornei'-stone, and we have seen some courses already 
 built upon it. 
 
 We have set up and maintained the banner of the cross in the face of its 
 pretended fi'iends and its avowed foes. We have collected a little army on 
 the Lord's side, and armed them with the sword of the Spu-it. We have 
 prepared an arsenal of spu'itual weapons for future conflicts, in the Scriptures, 
 and other religious books, translated and committed to the people. We 
 have estabhshed outposts of schools and seminaries, and have raised strong- 
 holds of the truth, in churches planted here and there throughout the land. 
 We have taken possession of the land in the name of King Immanuel, and 
 we aim to subdue and hold it wholly for Him. 
 
 Under this same general head of a " Statement of Progress up to the 
 Present Time," we remark : 
 
 2. As to Educational Agencies. — The awakening mind of the East 
 craves education. We make it the hand-maid of the Gospel. By it we gain 
 positions and attain an influence, which we could hope for, as Syrian society 
 is now constituted, iii no other way. Through it we have hundreds of chil- 
 dred under the most direct rehgious instruction, whom we could not reach in 
 any other way. Our reading books are made up of Bible history and in- 
 cident. Rehgious truth is also illustrated and enforced. Much of the New 
 Testament is committed to memory in our schools, and the children are all 
 carefuUy drilled in the catechisms, and also in books of Scripture history and 
 religious doctrine. They are also taught to recite and sing many of" the best 
 hymns in our language, which have been translated into Arabic; " Just as I 
 am," set to the Turkish national air, is a great favorite. The music with 
 which the Mohammedan marches into battle has been impressed into the 
 service of the Gospel, and as its sweet and stu'ring notes echo through our 
 churches, it seems both a type and a prophecy of happy and glorious changes 
 yet to come. 
 
 This whole matter of Education in Syi'ia, is so ably and interestingly pre- 
 sented in a " Special Report on Education in its Relations to the Mission 
 Work in Syria," by Rev. W. W. Eddy, of the Sidon Station, that we can do 
 nothing better than introduce it here entire, as presenting the subject in all 
 its importance and in its present aspects. 
 
f 
 
 21 
 
 REPORT. 
 
 (See Foreign Missionary for September, 1871.) 
 It may be well to define, in the outset, the position of the Syria Mission in 
 regard to this branch of benevolent enterjDrise. With them education is not 
 an end, only a means to the securing of an end. Their object is the salvation 
 of souls. They regard education as an important auxihary in this, their 
 great work. 
 
 With this view, of course, they have always sought to combine religious 
 with secular instruction ; directly, earnestly, plainly, have they endeavored 
 to bring before their pupils the truths uf the Bible. 
 
 Without stopping to consider the general question of the bearings of edu- 
 cation upon the missionary work, the first topic proposed is : 
 
 I. Is thei'e anything peculiar in the structure of society, and habits prevalent, 
 in Syria, which gives to education here a special efficacy as a means to the intro- 
 duction of the Gospel ? 
 
 The way is not yet open for bringing the Gospel directly into contact with 
 the masses of the people by preaching. Large congregations could not be 
 gathered with facility in the open air, as in India. Crowds of cuiious Hs- 
 teners do not throng our churches, as those of the missionaries in Africa and 
 the South Sea Islands. Nor is the land, to any great extent, a field for col- 
 porteur labor. Work of this kind is impracticable in many places, and diffi- 
 cult in most. In consequence of the variety of religious sects here, and the 
 bitterness of feeling between them, men attach great value to their religious 
 distinctions, and are jealous of any encroachments upon them ; so that the 
 obstacles to dhect attempts at proselytizing are almost insurmountable. 
 Where the work has reached an advanced stage, of course, it is different, 
 but in all new advances we are very much shut up to the use of indirect 
 means; and of these, one of the most hopeful is education. 
 
 This appears more plainly in considering the obstacles to the Gospel 
 among the different religious sects, and how these obstacles are met by this 
 means. 
 
 First Among the Mohammedans. — They rarely attend our preaching, rarely 
 visit us for religious conversation. As religious teachers, we, therefore, come 
 but httle into contact with them. Pride in the superiority of their own re- 
 ligion, contempt of Christianity as they understand it, and of Christians, as 
 being in this land a subject race, bigotry, and fanaticism wall them around ; 
 while a persuasion that the Scriptures have been tampered with, shuts their 
 hearts from the benefit of their perusal. 
 
 But Mohammedanism, as a system, is vulnerable through science. To an 
 educated mind there are in it puerilities, absurdities, glaring inconsistencies. 
 Education lays these bare, and thus prepares the way for the consideration 
 of another faith. 
 
 Contact with Moslem minds, so difficult through other means, is in a 
 
i 
 
 22 
 
 measure possible through education. Scripture truth may be inculcated in 
 connection with science, and this when youthful minds are most susceptible 
 to impressions. The Moslem children in our schools are, as yet, not numer- 
 ous, but among all the pupils none read the Bible with such interest as they 
 manifest. 
 
 Considering the great importance of gaining a hold upon the Mohannnedan 
 mind, we are justified in setting a high value upon this almost sole means of 
 reaching them, especially when this means is in itseK so hopeful. 
 
 Secondly. Among the Druzes. — These people are eager to have their children 
 taught. They prize education as a means of power and influence. They 
 despair of again recovering by the sword the position they once held in society 
 by means of it, and turn now to education. They have confidence in us as they 
 have in no other sect, and willingly place their children in our hands. Either 
 clanishness, or some peculiar power in a secret religion, bars their liearts to 
 the direct approaches of the Gospel ; but through education a wide and ef- 
 fectual door is opened for access to their minds and consciences. 
 
 Tliirdly. Among thenominalhj Christian Sects. — Their state is characterized by 
 ignorance of the religion they profess, except in its outward forms, ignorance 
 of the Bible, and of the history of the Chur-ch ; Avhile suj)erstition and priest- 
 craft have thus free scope to mould the heart and life, and ruin the soul. 
 
 Enlightenment, both in science and in rehgion, the disinthralment of mind 
 from its bondage, and ttie revelation of truth in all its aspects, are the indis- 
 pensable means for rescuing those thus having a name to live, while yet they 
 are dead. We reach many of this people directly by our preaching. We 
 reach more through our schools, and some of them we could never reach 
 at aU but through this means. 
 
 In regard to the Ar^abic-speaking races in Syria, it may be affirmed of 
 them, as a whole, that they are eminently capable of receiving instruc- 
 tion ; their minds are quick and retentive. Labor spent upon them is not 
 expended upon a people few in number, and feeble in influence. Syria, en- 
 lightened, is fitted by its position, its language, and the character of its peo- 
 ple, to become the teacher of vast numbers of the human race. 
 
 11. What has already been done here in the ivay of Education. 
 (1.) By the American Board. 
 
 (a) Common Schools. — When the missionaries of the Board arrived here, 
 more than forty years ago, there was almost a total dearth of books and of 
 readers. Great obstacles had to be surmounted in order to the introduction 
 of a few schools into the land. At first, only reading and writing were 
 taught, as there was little demand for more than these, and teachers capa- 
 ble of teaching higher branches, were wanting. 
 
 These schools were commenced in Beirut, then pushed into the adjacent 
 portions of Mt. Lebanon, then into other cities of the coast, and of the inte- 
 
23 
 
 rior, and they have raised up a great body of readers, capable of perusing 
 and understanding the Word of God. They have stimulated other sects to 
 open schools in rivalry, have awakened a desire for learning, have caused a 
 demand for books of all kinds, and for newspapers and magazines, and for 
 higher schools and seminaries of learning. Many educated in these schools 
 have been converted, have become members of our churches, teachers in other 
 schools, preachers to their countrymen. 
 
 Around these schools have clustered Protestant communities. Their 
 influence has pervaded all other sects, and raised the standard of knowledge 
 in all. 
 
 Without them, it is hard to conceive how Protestantism could have gain- 
 ed an entrance into many parts of the land. With them, it has gained a strong 
 hold upon the reason and conscience of a great number of the inhabitants 
 of Syria. 
 
 All honour, therefore, to the common schools, which have been for so many 
 years a source of blessing to the people of this land ! Honour to those who 
 established them, to those who supported them, and those who have taught 
 in them! 
 
 (b) Tlie Abeih Seminary. — The institution now bearing this title was JEirst 
 established iu Beirut. It was intended for the raising up of teachers and 
 preachers, and has occupied a large place in the interest and care of the 
 Mission. For a time no small amount of the strength of the Mission was 
 expended upon it ; its standard of education was very high, and its gradu- 
 ates were among the most highly educated scholars in the land. 
 
 For various reasons the standard of education was gradually lowered ; 
 and prominent among these reasons was the fact that the Mission failed to 
 secure the object originally aimed at, to raise up, by its means, pastors for 
 the native churches, the young men turning aside to other pursuits; and 
 more latterly, the establishment of the Syrian Protestant College has render- 
 ed unneccessary the teaching here of the higher branches of knowledge. 
 
 Most of the teachers of oui" schools, and religious instructors in the vari- 
 ous congregations, are graduates of this institution. 
 
 The study of the Scriptures has been a prominent object in the conduct of 
 the Seminary, and this branch of study has always been conducted by a 
 member of the Mission, and remains so until this day. 
 
 Until within a short time, a part of the instruction, literary as well as re- 
 ligious, was given by a missionary, and the government was administered by 
 him ; but of late other duties have devolved upon this missionary [Rev. S. 
 H. Calhoun], and he has been obliged to entrust the literary instnictions 
 and the government into the hands of native teachers, retaining, however, a 
 general superintendence over the whole, and giving daily religious instruc- 
 tion, as heretofore. 
 
 The applicants for free admission far exceed the number which the means 
 at the disposal of the institution allows it to receive. Several of the pupils 
 pay a moderate sum for their expenses. 
 
24 
 
 (c) TJie Syrian Protestant College. — Thisjs an outgrowth of missionary 
 labor in Syria, Missionary instmction created a demand for it. The plans 
 and prayers and labors of missionaries established it. The friends of mis- 
 sions endowed it. Its aim, and that of other missionary' labor, are one — the 
 enlightmeut and salvation of the Arabic speaking race. 
 
 This institution is stiU in its infancy, but its influence is already widely felt, 
 in creating a demand for general education, in raising the standard of 
 thought, and in stimulating other sects to enlarge and elevate their schools 
 of learning. It has sent forth two classes of graduates, most of whom are 
 now actively employed in the service of the IMission. 
 
 It commands the confidence of the missionaries, and has their best wish- 
 es, their prayers, and their efforts, for its success. The Medical Department 
 of the College is an able auxiliary to the missionary work, and its manifest 
 benefits, through its clinique and hospital practice, are a powerful argument 
 in favor of the religious system which sustains it. 
 
 (d) Female Education. — When the missionaries came to Syria it Avas an al- 
 I most unheard-of thing for a woman to read and write. It was argued that 
 I to teach her would tend to the disruption of society, to th.e disorganization 
 \of society, to the unsesing of woman. 
 
 For a number of years, girls were adopted into the families of the mis- 
 sionaries, and there trained and educated. Gradually they have entered the 
 common schools and studied with the boys, yet they still constitute but a 
 small muiority of the pupils. In some places day schools have been opened 
 *^ exi)ressly for them, taught by female teachers, and these have been well at- 
 tended. 
 
 For maiiy years the Mission have sustained in Beirut a Female Boarding 
 School, to which much labor and expense have been devoted. At one time 
 a missionary and his family were detailed to its care, then it was given in 
 I charge to young ladies fi'om America. The experiment of conducting it by 
 means of native teachers was tried, and for five years proved successful, but 
 circumstances have combined to render a return to the pi*evious plan a ne- 
 cessity, and it is now under the care of American ladies, with the best na- 
 tive assistants. 
 
 Changes have been made in it, of late, to suit the advanced stage of civi 
 lization and education in Beirut, introducing the study of European lan- 
 guages, and the practice of instrumental music ; also, in giving it a perma- 
 nent home in buildings erected expressly for its accommodatian, and in en- 
 deavoring to make it self-supporting. 
 
 This institution stands high in the regard of the community and the Mis- 
 sion, and is a powerful auxiliary to the missionary work. 
 
 [The support of the Beii'ut Female Seminary has been wholly assumed 
 by the "Ladies' Board of Missions of the Presbyterian Church," New 
 York.] 
 
 The mission has sustained for about eight years another Female Boarding 
 School in Sidon. 
 
25: 
 
 This is intended to meet the wants of the people who do not come into 
 contact with Eui'opean tastes and refinement. It is supported by the funds 
 of the Mission, except that the salary of the principal teacher, Miss Jacombs, 
 an EngUsh lady, is paid by a society of ladies in England. 
 
 This_school is purely a missionary institution. Its plan is to teach only 
 girls from Protestant families, the best pupils of the common schools, with a 
 view to theu' being directly useful hereafter as teachers and helpers in the 
 missionary work. 
 
 All the stations have a right to send pupils, and of those now in atten- 
 dance some have come from the extreme borders of the field. Being purely 
 a mission school and its pupils Protestants, there is here the best opportuni- 
 ty for thorough rehgious instruction in connection with mental and social cul- 
 tui*e, and its success realizes fully the expectations of its friends. Like the 
 Mt. Holyoke Seminary in Axnei'ica, the household labor aU devolves upon the 
 pupils. The Beunit and Sidon schools for girls have both their spheres ; 
 neither interferes, nor renders the other unnecessary. 
 
 [The support of the Sidon Female Seminai-y has been wholly assumed 
 by the " Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Presbyterian Chui'ch," 
 Philadelphia.] 
 
 This outhne comprises most of what has been done by the American 
 Board in behalf of education in Syria. To it maybe added, of general work, 
 the prepai-ing and pubhshing of reading books and primers; of two arithme- 
 tics, of lower and higher grades; of tw;o geograj)hies, a grammar, a work on 
 logic, and another on rhetoric, an algebra and geometry ; and the preparing 
 of manuscript works in natural philosophy and astronomy. Recently, in 
 [connection with the College, works on physiology, botany, chemistry and 
 natural history have been published. A monthly rehgious paper has also 
 been issued from our press for about four years past. [Recently changed to 
 a weekly.] 
 
 (2.) By other Protestant Agencies. 
 
 Other Protestant agwicies during late years, have co-operated with the 
 American missionaries in their educational efibrts. Most of these have been 
 enhsted^haff;ever, in-feehalf of fernales. 
 
 Mrs. Watson, an English lad3% opened a school for girls in Beirut in 1856 
 which has since been transferred to Mt. Lebanon. 
 
 Mrs. Bowen Thompson opened schools in Beirut in 1861. These are still 
 continued, and have beon extended to four places in Mt. Lebanon, to Dam- 
 ascus, and to Hasbeiya. 
 
 Miss Hicks and Miss Dobby, young ladies sent out by a Woman's Society 
 in England, have a school for girls at Shiralan on Mt. Lebanon, 
 v Mr. Elias^uleiby, aided by friends in Scotland, mostly in connection with 
 the Free Church, has, for ten or twelve ye.irs past, conducted schools in a 
 part of Mt. Lebanon, and also, latterly, in the Buka'a. 
 
H 
 
 26 
 
 The Established Church of Scotland has a scliool for Jews in Beirut, con- 
 ducted by the Kev. Mr. Robertson. 
 
 The Prussian Deaconesses, in 18()1, established an institution in Beirut, 
 partly for orphans, and partly for paying pupils. 
 
 Mr. Butrus Bistany, a native Protestant of Beirut, has, for about six years 
 past, conducted a flourishing school for boys in that city. 
 
 In the same place, Miss Taylor, of England, has also conducted, for the 
 past two years, a day school for Moslem girls. 
 
 This comprises mainly what has been done within the limits of our field 
 in Syria, in behalf of education. 
 
 in. Has not the ivork of Education been brought so far forwardby the Mlsaion, 
 or have not other agencies arisen so capable of carrying it on, that the Mission can 
 now luifh propriety ivitkdraw from it and engage in other ivork ? 
 
 To this question it may be replied briefly — 
 
 The Mission would find it difficult to act in many places, but tlnough 
 schools. Long as the Gospel has been preached in Syria, there are still 
 extensive districts in mountain and plain, where prejudice and the power 
 of the clergy have kept out the light. New fields are, therefore, constantly 
 to be occupied — schools are the entering wedges.. They fui'nish au occasion 
 for the presence of a missionary, and give an opportunity for the exerting of 
 influence. The school teacher by day, becomes a preacher for aciults in the 
 evening, and on the Sabbaths, and the school-rooms are thus the nuclei of 
 churches. 
 
 Again, the Mission and all other agencies combined, fail now to meet the 
 wants of the field. The demand for schools and teachers is greater than 
 the supply. How would it be if the largf-r source of supply should be 
 withdrawn ? 
 
 Again, these other agencies act only at or near certain centres. The ai-ea 
 of their influence is limited, reaching but little beyond Beirut and a part of 
 Mt. Lebanon. The mission schools are extended widely through our whole 
 field — north, south, east and west. To leave these other agencies to act 
 alone, would be to leave the greater part of the land without schools. 
 
 And, moreover, it would be impossible for those not engaged in the miss- 
 ionary work to make their schools as directly auxiliary to the work of the 
 Gospel, as would the Mission, whose aim in conducting these schools is to 
 further their plans in raising up self-supporting Christian churches and 
 communities. 
 
 For these reasons, as well as others, the Mission would find itself crippled, 
 
 thwarted, embarrassed, in its action, if it was compelled to give up the work 
 
 I of education, and to leave it to others. Much ef it would certainly be left 
 
 ' undone, as there are not agencies on hand prepared to assume it, and the 
 
 cause of Christ would inevitably suffer. 
 
27 
 
 rV. If the Mission continue the work of Edw^ation can thry prop'rhj continue it 
 on the same system and the same scale a>t they have done heretofore? 
 
 Unquestionably the answer to this must be in the negative. 
 
 First. In regard to common schools. — There is a demand for a laiye increase 
 in their number, particularly among the Druzes. We could properly occupy 
 many additional fields of much promise, had we the means. Appeals from 
 various quarters have come to us which we have been compelled to re- 
 fuse. 
 
 There is also a demand for the elevation of the standard of many of these 
 schools. That which met the wants of the field twenty years ago, does not 
 meet it now. Syria has made vast strides forward Avithin a few years, and 
 our common school system should move forward in correspondence. 
 
 It is time to commence a revision of the whole plan of these schools ; to 
 
 ] remodel them, as far as possible, according to modern ideas; to introduce a 
 
 ', uniform programme of studies ; to employ as a whole a higher grade of 
 
 teachers, with new checks and responsibilities. Thus increased in number, 
 
 and newly organized, their power might be augmented many fold, as an 
 
 agency in restoring to Syria a true Christianity. 
 
 There might with advantage be added to the mission force a superintend- 
 ent of common schools, able properly to visit and I'egulate them in the 
 length and breadth of the land. 
 
 Secondly. In regard to Abeih Seminary. — The Mission need for the conduct 
 of their schools a greater number of teachers than they can reasonably ex- 
 pect to obtain from among the graduates of the College. Not all of these 
 schools require teachers of so high a grade. It is not enough that these 
 teachers should be apt scholars : they need also to be made apt teachers. A 
 system should be adopted here, corresponding to that of the Normal Train- 
 ing schools in other countries, so that the graduates may carry into effect in 
 the common schools what they have learned, and thus give them new life and 
 efficacy. 
 
 This involves, besides the training of the regular pupils in the best modes 
 of imparting knowledge, the assembling in Abeih, for two or three months 
 in the year, of the teachers already engaged in teaching, and the drilling 
 of them with a special course of training in the art of instructionT 
 
 These educational institutions, combined with our printing-press and our 
 
 native agency, are the channels through which your missionaries can bring 
 
 ght and blessing to the people. Ihey are the complement of our force — 
 
 our machinery. They bring to our hands the material upon which we are 
 
 to work, and help us to mould it. 
 
 We can, therefore, cordially commend the work of Education in Syria to 
 the prayers and sympathies of the friends of Christ at home, as being one 
 of the means of undermining the fortress of error here, and establishing the 
 truth ; and if they desire to give new impulse to this work, and to push it 
 
 \ n 
 
28 
 
 forward with greater vigor, they will find us prepared to second their efforts 
 heartily, hopefully, and vigorously, being assured that thus the day of 
 Christ's triumph wlU be brought nearer — the hour of Syria's redemption 
 will be hastened. 
 
 The above report seems exhaustive on this subject. It may be noted, how- 
 ever, that the number of common schools now in operation under mission 
 auspices is about fifty ; many of them are large and flourishing ; the attend- 
 ance in some ranging as high as a hundred. 
 
 Again, under the same general head of a " Statement of ProgTess up to 
 the Present Time," we mention also : 
 
 3. Press-work. — Through the scholarly labors of Dr. Eli Smith, and Dr. 
 Van Dyck, we have one of the most accurate and beautiful translations of 
 _the^criptures to be found in any language, and many thousand copies in 
 some six or eight different styles have been issued. Several editions are 
 now electrotyped. The voweled edition of the entire Bible, just issued, is 
 regarded as the finest book in the Arabic language, and the Scriptures can 
 now be given to the Mohammedan world free from a favorite objection, 
 namely, that they were unvoweled, and, consequently, iucomplete. Some 
 sixty works of a religious and educational character have been published. 
 Text books for the College are either already issued, or well advanced in 
 preparation, by the Professors ia. their various departments. The Theologi- 
 cal Professors are also prepaiing text-books. 
 
 __ A weekly religious newspaper is issued, which has its regular roll list of 
 over a thousand subscribers. 
 
 A monthly illustrated paper, specially for the children, has just been com- 
 menced. In reference to this new enterprise of a children's paper, the Annual 
 Keport of the Mission for the past year reiparks : "It was once thought an 
 impossibility to bend the stiffness of written Arabic so as to adapt it for a 
 newspaper, even for adults, without shocking the tastes of all Arabic scholars, 
 but the contact of the West with the East has so changed ideas and render- 
 ed plastic old incrustations, that no one's prejudices are shocked, while the 
 stately Arabic has been made to bend to a child's comprehension in a child's 
 newspaper. The secular newspapers of Beirut have done much to under- 
 mine the pedantrj' of Arabic literatui'e, and to prepare the people to accept 
 a written language somewhat conformable to the spoken tongue." An ad- 
 ditional building for the uses of the press has just been erected. It is a 
 handsome structure, standing side by side with the mission church, with 
 which, in external aspect and beauty of design, it is fully in keeping. It 
 is to be used also as a Bible House, and contains besides a large room which 
 can be used as a lecture-room to the church. 
 
 A bindery and a lithographic press have been recently added to the press 
 establishment. A new Adams Steam Press wiU soon be on its way to Syria 
 
U.I 
 
 J 
 
 29 
 
 to supplement the two (one an " Adams," and the other a *' Hoe,") which 
 are now well worn by long service. The piiating which is done at the mis- 
 sion press is universally regarded as the most elegant and tasteful specimen 
 of Ai-abic typography to be found in the world. A few years ago, Dr. Van 
 Dyck superintended the preparation of an entu'ely new font of tyjDe, which, 
 in neatness, cleai-ness, and beauty of style, was a great improvement upon 
 all other kinds. The great printing presses of Germany, recognizing its su- 
 perior excellence, have recently thrown aside the old fonts of Arabic type 
 whi h they have been accustomed to use, and have sent to Beirut for ma- 
 trices of the new type. The British and Foreign Bible Society have also 
 adopted it. 
 
 Dr. Van Dyck fills the position of Editor and Literary Superintendent of 
 " The Press," while the business-management is under the superintendence 
 of Mr. Samuel HaUock, whose efficient services are highly valued by the 
 Mission. 
 
 As a summary of what has been done through the press by the American 
 Missionaries, it may be stated : 
 
 1. They have translated the entire Bible, and it is now issued in many 
 editions, either complete or in parts. An edition of the Gospels in raised 
 Arabic characters, is also issued for the blind, at the expense of Mr. Mott, 
 a benevolent English gentleman. 
 
 2. They have prepared and pubhshed some sixty works both rehgious 
 and educational in their character. 
 
 3. They edit and publish a weekly religious journal, which has a large 
 and constantly increasing subscription roll throughout Syria and Egypt, also 
 a children's monthly. 
 
 Among the religious works already issued from the Syria Mission press 
 in Beirut, are the following ; Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, Edwards' His- 
 tory of Redemption, Nevins on Popery, Bird's Letters on Romanism, 
 Alexander's Evidences of Christianity, Guide to Scripture Study, (048 pp.,) 
 Office and Work of the Holy Sphit, Hymn Book, (200 pp.,) Book of Social 
 and Family Prayer, Imitation of Christ, Rehgious Story Book for Child- 
 ren, (Illustrated,) Bogatzky's Golden Treasury, Newman Hall's Tracts, 
 Catechisms large, and small, and with proofs, several Scripture Question 
 books, and many pamphlets, sermons, tracts, etc. There are now in manu- 
 script, ready for the press ; A Concordance of the Bible, Mosheim's Church 
 History, Harmony of the Gospels, with notes by Rev. Mr. Calhoun. 
 
 Two native converts of the Syria Mission, Drs. Meshakah and Worta- 
 et, have also written able works which have been published. 
 
 In course of preparation is a Dictionary of the Bible, also a work on 
 Systematic Theology, and Commentaries on the Pentateuch and Gospels. 
 
 Among the educational works issued at the mission press, though not 
 always at mission expense, may be mentioned ; a Geometry and Trigon- 
 ometi-y, an Algebra, Arithmetics, Geographies, Grammars, Reading 
 
30 
 
 Books of higher and lower grade, a work on Logic, another on Rhetoric, 
 also one on Natural History, some medical works on Anatomy, Physio- 
 logy and Plygiene, a Chemistry, a Botany, and an Atlas of the World. 
 In manuscript are a Natnral Philosophy, an Astronomy, and a work on 
 Moral Science. 
 
 A leai-ned native convert, Mr. Bistany, is the author of a magnificent 
 Dictionary of the Arabic Language in 2 vols. 1200 pp., he is also editor of 
 a semi-weekly newspaper, and a semi-monthly magazine, devoted to science, 
 literatui'e, pohtics and general information. Both are published at Beirut, 
 and circulate largely' throughout the Orient. 
 
 The chiu'ch at home cannot fully estimate' the labors of her missionaries 
 in this most important department, the preparation of a religious and edu- 
 cational literature. Several of the most important educational works men- 
 tioned above have been recently prepared by Professors in the Syrian 
 Protestant College at Beirut, Drs. Bhss, Van Dyck, Post and Wortabet. 
 
 in. 
 
 A GLANCE AT THE PRESENT WOEKIN(J CONDITION AND FUTURE PROSPECTS OF THE 
 
 MISSION. 
 
 Much has been said which anticipates what might properly be said under 
 this head, and, not to prolong this sketch unduly, we w^ill not enlarge upon 
 what is already found in these pages. The hst of missionaries at present 
 (March, 1872) connected with the Mission and their respective location is as 
 follows : 
 
 Beirut : Eev. Messrs. Wm. M. Thomson, D.D., C. V. A. Van Dyck, M.D., 
 D.D., Henry H. Jessup, D.D., and their wives, Miss Eliza D. Everett, Miss 
 EUen Jackson and Miss Sophie B. Loring, Mr. Samuel Hallock, Sup't. of 
 Press. 
 
 Tripoli : Rev. Samuel Jessup and his wife. Rev. Oscar J. Hardin, G. B. 
 Danforth, M. D., and his wife. 
 
 Abejh : Rev. Messrs. S. H. Calhoun and Wm. Bird, and their wives. 
 
 SiDON : Rev. Messrs. Wm. W. Eddy and Frank A. Wood, and their wives, 
 Rev. James S. Dennis. Supported by a Woman's Society, of the English 
 Chui'ch, and having the charge of Sidon Female Seminary, Miss Jacombs; 
 and Miss Stainton. 
 
 Under appointment for Syria, and expecting soon to sail, Messrs. W. J. 
 Cumming and Gerald F. Dale, Jr. 
 
 The following compose the Faculty of the Syrian Protestant College at 
 Beirut, including the Faculty of the Medical Department ; Rev. Daniel Bliss, 
 D.D., President, Rev. C. V. A. Van Dyck, M.D., D.D., Rev. Geo. E. Post, 
 M.D., Rev. D. Stuart Dodge, M.A., Rev. John Wortabet, M.D., Rev. 
 Edwin R. Lewis, M.D., Harvey Porter, B.A.,' with a coi-ps of six native 
 tutors. 
 
31 
 
 Concluding Remarks. 
 
 A glance at the future of the mission work in Syria suggests expansion, 
 growth, progress. 
 
 We have hitherto occupied four principal stations. We must now enlarge 
 the circle of our operations and make another, which will be at Zahley, a 
 large town of 10,000 inhabitants, on the eastern base of the Lcbanons, over- 
 looking the plain of Ccele-Syria, or the Buka'a, which, with its many and 
 populous villages, is to be the outlying field of the Zahley station. i 
 
 We have a great work opening for us among the Druzes, who are friendly 
 and confiding. They regard themselves as under the political protection of 
 England, and should political complications at any time lead them to a nom- 
 inal profession of Protestantism, our opportunity would be most favorable. 
 New missionaries should be in the field studying the language and prepar- 
 ing to enter upon this special work with the Druzes, 
 
 The Mission have another work in view, for which they desire to be ever- 
 in readiness, so as to take advantage of any providential openings in its 
 favor, and t hat i s the evangelization of the Bedouins of the desert. Their L^ 
 language is the Arabic, and^ of course, they are to be reached by those 
 speaking that tongue. They are professedly Mohammedans, and yet few 
 of them know anything of their religion, being unable to read the Koran, 
 and rarely hearing respecting its teachings from one who understands it. 
 They are as nearly without a religious faith as a people can be, and yet profess 
 one. Their wajidering life, and the insecurity among them of person and 
 of property, make their instruction in the Gospel especially difficult. But 
 Christ's command extends to even these, and the difficulties in the way of 
 reaching them with the truth are not iusurmoui>table. The points of con 
 tact between the-Bedouins and the Mission, are Hums in the Tripoli field, and 
 the neighborhood of Banias in the Sidon field. The course to be pursued 
 for their evangelization is to send among them colporteurs, men of wisdom 
 and experience as well as piety, carrying with them simple remedies for -^ 
 bodily diseases, and aiming to heal the deeper maladies of the soul. As 
 fast as such men oifer themselves, they should be commissioned and sent 
 forth at once into this field, so vast, so difficult, so neglected, so loudly ap- 
 pealing to the sympathies of all who love Christ and weep for souls perish- 
 ing in darkness. 
 
 To man and sustain this enlarged work ; to guide and minister to the , 
 awakening mind of Syria, already aroused and invigorated by academic cul- 
 ture, and give it the balance of a strong evangelical bias ; to counteract the 
 heinous deceptions and vile chicanery of Jesuitism ; to deal wisely and firmly 
 with Moslem bigotry ; to lend a helping hand to the persecuted ; to preach 
 the simple, living Gospel ; to build up a spiritual, self supporting, witnessing 
 church ; to train a native agency of pastors and teachers ; to bring Chris- 
 tianity to bear upon the scandalous aud pitiful social degeneracy of the 
 East ; this is the task which, with its appalling responsibilities, confrouts a 
 
32 
 
 feeble band of missionaries in Syria. Vei'ily ! if the Spirit of God be 
 withheld, our task is a hopeless one. 
 
 As the future of this great work looms up before us, the conviction grows 
 stronger and more solemn that the great need of Syria is that which no 
 human wisdom can supply. It can be met by no new combination of forces at 
 home or on the field, by no complication of the machinery of missions, nor 
 by indefinite enlargement. It is the want of the influences of the Holy Spirit. 
 The Syria of the present age has never witnessed the mighty manifestations 
 of His presence. Nothing is known there of His power to change the whole 
 aspect of society, and to pervade all hearts with a sense of the coming 
 Judgment. There are no histories nor memories of such a work to which 
 we can refer. 
 
 Nothing but a great revival, upheaving the deep foundations of society, 
 and drawing men wholly away from their old refuges of lies, can avail to 
 fuse into one mass elements so wholly at variance with one another, and to 
 bring all into subjection to Christ. 
 
 Therefore, we would say to all who love Syria and Avait for its redemp- 
 tion, withhold what you will, but withhold not your prayers ; nay, rather 
 besiege the throne of grace unceasingly for a return of the Holy Spirit to a 
 land from which He has so long been grieved away. We would name 
 especially these petitions : 
 
 ] . — For an outpouring of the Spirit upon our churches and native 
 agents, upon educational institutions, upon our own souls. 
 
 2. — For the raising up of a native pastorate and the development of 
 NATIVE AGENCIES. We are aiming and planning for self-support. Pray that 
 the educated young men' of Syria may have their hearts turned to the 
 ministry, and that the whole corps of our native assistants may be inspired 
 with zeal and self-denying consecration. 
 
 3. — For the progress of religious liberty everywhere, and for all 
 CLASSES IN Syria. A converted Moslem's life is not safe for an hour in any 
 Syrian city. Papal persecution is still bitter and grinding in many parts 
 of the country. We want liberty of conscience. 
 
 Dear brethren, in the name of that Saviour who once trod the coasts of 
 Tyre and Sidon, and was transfigured upon Hermon, we ask you to pray for 
 Syria, that He may again visit that dark land, and lay His hands in sjiirit- 
 ual healing upon the sick and dying. 
 
 And there, where the first triumphs of Christianity were won, may the 
 latter day glories of the cross eclipse those of its early rising, and all the praise 
 and honor be given to Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb 
 for evermore ! 
 
Syracuse, N. T. 
 Stockton, Calif. 
 
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